Reinforced concrete construction.



McKENDHEE H. McKEE.

REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

APPIICATION FILED JAN.9,1913.

1,12,l09 Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- IHE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHoTo-LlTHm WASHINGTON H McKENDREE ,H. MCKEEf REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, i913- LKQQJQQ, V PatentedJune 8, 1915.

I 1 2 iHEETSSHEET 2 THE NORRIS PETERS c0 PHOI'C LI1HO,,WA5H1r-n M n inn snares names 1 QFFICE MOKENDREE H. MGKEE, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MOKENDREE H. Mo Ken, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reinforced Concrete Constructions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in concrete wall construction, and more particularly to the reinforcement of concrete walls.

The invention proposes a reinforcement which may be madeup of a number of units. The essential characteristics of each unit are that it is a separate article of manufacture and sale; that it is independently adjustable as to its longitudinal extent; that it is originally set up in preadjusted position; and that it forms a permanent element of the metallic superstructure about which the concrete wall is to be built.

The purpose of thereinforcing units are to provide a reinforcement which may be conveniently and quickly adapted to the needs of the structure both as to the extent of the reinforcement required in particular cases and as to the dimensions of the spaces in which the reinforcement is to be fitted.

The device is particularly adapted for the rapid and economical construction of small.

nel seat for the reinforcing unitsyFig. 4; is

a View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing the skeleton work of a side wall of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig.5 is a detail sectional-view. to a some- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 9, 1913.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Serial No. 741,084.

what enlarged scale, on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view of a wall in the course of construction, with the reinforcing units incorporated therein; Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation of a finished-wall in which the reinforcing units are incorporated.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The metallic reinforcement for the concrete wall includes essentially a number of reinforcing units which are adjustable as to their longitudinal extent. In the embodiment disclosed, a reinforcing unit comprises a pair of parallel side bars 1 in, the form of T-irons, which are arranged in confronting relation, an intermediate bar 2 of shorter length than the side bars, and upper and lower pairs of links 3 and 4, pivoted to the respective side bars 1 somewhat adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and pivotally connected to one another at their mutually adjacent ends, as at 5. The bar 2 is formed with slots 6 and the pivots 5 of the links 3 and a pass through the slots. The links of each pair are arranged adjacent opposite faces of the bar 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and are pivoted at relatively opposite sides of the central flanges of the bars 1.

When two or more of the reinforcing units are arranged in adjoining relation, it is pre ferred to positively connect them. Thus, Fig. 5 shows three units adjoining in a single wall and the bars 1 are placed back to back and are connected by rivets 7. Where the units adjoin at a corner of the building, the connection shown in Fig. 2 may be employed, the bars 1 being so arranged as to form a corner wall angle of ninety degrees. In this case the central flange of one of the bars 1 is riveted or otherwise secured as at 8, to the outer side flange of the other bar, and the bars may be positively held in-the desired relation by the use of sleeves 9 surrounding the rivets or bolts of the connecting seam. r

The building shown generally in Fig. 1 has a foundation of concrete, the upperface of which is grooved to receive-channel bars 10 which form positive retaining seats for the reinforcing units. To illustrate applications of the invention, a portion of the front wall of this building is taken up by a door'll and a window 12. The foundation is cut away to accommodate the door and the Window 12 seats upon a channel bar 10. Somewhat narrow spaces intervene between the side walls, and the window and door which they adjoin. In each of these spaces a reinforcing unit of the construction de scribed is arranged. The space at the left side of the wall is narrower than the space at the right, and the units are in each in stanceadjusted, in respect of their longitudinal extent, to conform to the extent of these spaces. This figurealso shows the utility of the units as part of the superstruc ture, whichmay include other metallic elements, such, for instance, as the horizontal bar 13 which extends between the units and, inthe construction shown, forms a common lintel for the window and door; Between the bar 13 and the roof or ceiling there is a rectangular inclosure 14, which may or may not, according to choice, be taken up by a struction of the building illustrated in Fig.

1, wherein anumber of units are arranged in immediately ad oining relation. The units at the ends of the side walls are oined to the units at the ends of the front and rear walls by the corner joints shown in Fig. 2, and already described, and the units of eachside wall areconnected in-their adjoining relation by the fastening devices 7. For convenience of illustration, this fig ure shows one unit adjusted to its maximum tively to the other.

extent, and an adjoining unit adjusted to have less extent. The adjustment of the units is effected by moving the pivots 5 in the slots 6, a' movement of the pivots toward one another reducing the longitudinal extentof the units and a movement of the .pivots away'from one another increasing the longitudinal extent of the units.

Fig. 4 also'illustrates a further feature of utility of the construction, in that it enables the roof elevation or inclination to be determined by suitably inclining the upper faces of the side wall portions of the foundation. In such a case, the bars 1, owing to the fact that their mutual connections are pivotal or flexible, adjust themselves to the inclination of their seats, as is obvious. 7 j

Inmost cases, the bars 1 will require a parallel relation, but in some instances it might be desirable to incline one bar rela- Obviously, this can be effected by suitably differentiating the angle formed by the links of one pair from the 5 angle formed by thelinksof anotherpair.

greater or less extentthan others.

The upper ends of the bars 1 may, if desired, be utilized to support the cross bars or beams 15 by which the ceiling or roof 16 I relation and the spacebetween them is filled with concrete which is firmly tamped. Then the concrete sets the planks are removed and the holes left by their retaining bolts 18 are suitably filled. In practising this method, the planks 17 may be placed immediately adjacent thebars 1, as shown,

in which case the side edge faces of said bars are flush with the concrete (Fig. 7), or

the planks may be spaced from one another to an extent greater than the maximimi thicknessof the reinforcing units, so that the concrete will wholly conceal said units.

The units, themselves maybe made'in various. sizes and a suitable number and selection may be furnished in each instance to accommodate the needs of the building under construction. They are readily adaptable for the reinforcement of a wall as an entirety as inFig. at, or of isolated por-' tions of the wall as in'Fig. 1, when a series of units in ad oining relation are employed,

they may all be adjusted to have the same extent, or, if circumstances necessitate, some of the units maybe adjusted to have In many cases, especially where the buildings are small, the units may, as shown, be employed, to make up the superstructure of the build ing, and in other cases they may be employed as reinforcing elements per 86, and

. not as parts of a metallic superstructure or skeleton.

Having fully described my invention, I claim: Y

, l. A reinforcing unit for use in concrete wall construction, comprising a .pa1r of bars, an intermediate slotted adjusting bar,

and links pivoted to the first named bars and to one another, the mutual pivots of the links being arranged in the slots of the ad justing bar. r

2. A reinforcing unit for use in concrete wall construction, comprising a pair of bars, an intermediate slotted adjusting bar, and links pivoted to the first named bars and to one another, the links being arranged in upper and lower pairs, the mutual pivots of the links-being arranged in the slots of the adjusting bar.

8. A reinforcing unit for use in concrete -wall construction, comprising a pair of T- bars arranged in confronting' relation, an intermediate slotted adjusting bar, and links ari 'inged in upper and lower pairs,

the links of each pair being pivoted at relaset my hand in presence of two subscribing tively opposite sides of the central flanges Witnesses. of said T-bars and being pivoted. to one another at their adjoining ends, the mutual MOKENDREE MCKEE' 5 pivots of the links being arranged in the Witnesses:

slots of the adjusting bar. HENRY L. DAVIS,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto MYRON CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

